Abstract
The practicability of combination insecticide-fungicide mixtures is sometimes argued. The proprietary compounds are more expensive, but they are more properly prepared than can be done at home and certainly save a lot of time. Nobody today could put on in separate applications all the materials needed. The trouble is that the mixtures follow fads, as in human medicine. Just as penicillin was given for most human ills some years ago, so DDT was put in almost all pesticide mixtures, followed a little later by malathion. Both are excellent insecticides. The trouble is they are somewhat too efficient, killing the parasites and predators that keep mites and some other pests in check and also damage the environment. DDT is no longer available. Some of the new fungicides leave a rather conspicuous residue; some are somewhat phytotoxic under certain conditions. Some of these pesticides are no longer available owing to new federal pesticide legislation; however, new materials are available that will replace those whose use is illegal. Every mixture must be evaluated for particular climatic situations and kinds of plants. There are hundreds and hundreds of combinations on the market under brand names. In order not to be out of date before this text is printed, I have used as few brand names as possible.
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The practicability of combination insecticide-fungicide mixtures is sometimes argued. The proprietary compounds are more expensive, but they are more properly prepared than can be done at home and certainly save a lot of time. Nobody today could put on in separate applications all the materials needed. The trouble is that the mixtures follow fads, as in human medicine. Just as penicillin was given for most human ills some years ago, so DDT was put in almost all pesticide mixtures, followed a little later by malathion. Both are excellent insecticides. The trouble is they are somewhat too efficient, killing the parasites and predators that keep mites and some other pests in check and also damage the environment. DDT is no longer available. Some of the new fungicides leave a rather conspicuous residue; some are somewhat phytotoxic under certain conditions. Some of these pesticides are no longer available owing to new federal pesticide legislation; however, new materials are available that will replace those whose use is illegal. Every mixture must be evaluated for particular climatic situations and kinds of plants. There are hundreds and hundreds of combinations on the market under brand names. In order not to be out of date before this text is printed, I have used as few brand names as possible.
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© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
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Horst, R.K. (2013). All-Purpose Sprays and Dusts. In: Westcott's Plant Disease Handbook. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-2141-8_8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-2141-8_8
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Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-007-2140-1
Online ISBN: 978-94-007-2141-8
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